Knives and forks take a walk

More and more cutlery is "walking" out of staff canteens, say caterers.

Erica Fraser, northern regional managing director for Sutcliffe Catering, says that 50% of cutlery needs to be replaced every year. Cutlery firm Lancaster & Co attributes up to 75% of its business to the problem.

At one newspaper in London the on-site catering manager reckons that every year knives and forks need to be replaced three times as they find their way into drawers and wastepaper bins. "It's horrendous here, a constant battle," he said.

Sutcliffe staff jokingly refer to the phenomenon of disappearing silverware as occurring during "the caravan season", but most losses are put down to carelessness.

The problem has worsened as workers take shorter lunch breaks and eat "on the hoof". "More white collar workers are eating at their desks, and it's not pleasant eating with plastic cutlery," explained Fraser.